Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Papa vs. Daddy

Daniel has called Troy "Papa" from the day we met...until about a month ago. He came home one day from "school" and suddenly said "I don't call him Papa anymore, I call him Daddy."

Imagine my surprise when all those words came tumbling out. We all talked about it and Troy and I explained to Daniel that they meant the same thing and calling him Papa or Daddy was okay.

Since then he has been calling Troy "Daddy" - although lately it's just "Dad". I'm still Mommy and I'm sort of dreading the day he starts calling me "Mom". It sounds so grown up.

He does revert back to using Papa whne he's really tired or when he is talking about Troy to me. He'll say something like "Papa did this" or "Papa told me I could". Otherwise it's all about "Dad" now.

I have to say that I'm having the most trouble with it. Troy doesn't mind in the least. It's all the same to him, and as he put it, it doesn't change his status with Daniel. He's still the father whether he's called Dad or Papa. I, on the other hand, worked so hard at changing Dad to Papa in the beginning, that I'm having trouble after a year and a half, calling Troy Dad. It's also a bit sentimental to lose the word Papa after all this time.

I'm trying, I really am.

And if I call him Papa - I am quickly corrected and given a look like "Duh Mom..."

Oh well, I guess I'm in for a lot of those looks in the future anyhow!!

13 comments:

Amy said...

I get it. I do. T sometimes pops out with a mommy vs mama and it sounds weird to me. She's only used mom once or twice and it's usually after hearing it elsewhere. It's hard to watch them grow up!

I am way behind - so I read both your latest posts at once. Earlier this year I sent letters to all my govt folks as well. 2 out of the 3 responded (well let's be honest someone in their office did!) and I was dissapointed the last one didn't. I don't think my one letter did much, but my hope is that EVERYONE did this and they are all bombarded!!

Becky and Keith said...

It's so funny you posted about this because just the other day, Andrew popped out with "Papa" when he had been calling Keith "Daddy" for the past year, easily! I remember Daniel calling Troy "Papa" and it totally melted my heart. I know how it must be tearing you up! The good thing is that there will be that "sweet" moment when he reverts back to papa when he's not feeling well or just wants to be a daddy's boy. Our kiddos are growing up way too fast! :-(

the7houks said...

I loved it too, when Charlie called his Dad "Pappa" but those days are long over. So sad, I loved it!

www.adventureswithaidan.org said...

Aidan has called Pat Daddy since he came out of the orphanage. It was Papa and then he switched. I think Pat was relieved--he didn't really like Papa.. .but, I have been called Mama mostly, Mommy a lot and, just lately, a little bit of Mom. I love Mama and Mommy isn't too bad, but I'm with you. . .Mom sounds so grown up!!

Craig and Phyllis said...

I have been hearing the Mom and Dad a lot lately, too. I really liked hearing the Mama and Papa. I've tried to encourage it, but I guess when they get around other kids, they tend to pick up more of their vocabulary. It is sad, but yet a good thing, too. But I would side more with you than with Troy on this! : )

Jane said...

Oh I can so relate. My kids, Caroline especially, starting calling me "Mommy" a while back. They have always called me "mama" and it seemed like a little piece of Russia they still had with them. Calling me mommy only lasted a few weeks and they are back to calling me mama now and I'm secretly hoping it sticks!

Mama Fish said...

I can relate- Small Fry almost always calls Chris "papa". He sometimes will say "dad" because he hears the boys say it.... and rarely will he ever say "Daddy". I guess I don't mind either way... Chris doesn't mind either, though I think Papa makes him feel older than he already is! LOL!

Jenny and Randy said...

I would be completely sentimental about this, too!

I'm starting to get called "Mom" instead of "Mommy" every once in awhile, and it makes me sad every time.

Our babies are growing up way too quickly!

Gloria said...

Just last night, our little guy (5) been home for a little over two months told his sister (8) also home a little over two months "That's not PaPa, that's Dad". We were all quite shocked. My husband has been working on it cause Papa is grandpa in our house and it made him feel old. We were just surprised because he has only been home two months. Our little guy is also experimenting with Daddy also. No more Papa - just dad or daddy.

Roger and Joanne said...

I know what you mean. Reese and Niko have always called Roger papa and he likes that. I think he'd be sad the day they want to call him Dad or daddy. I like them calling me mama, but it's really 50/50...sometimes they call me mommy. I'm okay with it either way, but Roger likes "papa".

Dede said...

Our boys are growing up. :-( Liam calls me Mom sometimes and I much prefer Momma. About 6 months ago he came home from daycare and called us Mom and Dad and I remember how strange that was to hear for the first time. He goes back and forth now but it is definitely sad to see them growing up so fast.

Jane and Jim said...

We've been through that same thing too. Jim's been "Daddy" for awhile now - I think the other kids at school calling their daddy's daddy did it. (What a sentence!). I recently went from Mama to Mommy - I like it much better.
Sometimes, Cooper calls me Jane or Jim, Jim. It's unsettling! I tell him I waited too long to be a Mommy, so he better call me that!

Jane and Jim said...

Oh, I meant to tell you this too:
When Jim and Cooper were in the supermarket awhile back, Cooper said something and called Jim Papa. A lady looked at Jim and said, you're much too young to be that child's grandpa!
Some people, huh?
All the hispanics I know say Poppy for Daddy...